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Mial Pagan
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Thicker Than Water: The First Dermot O'Hara Mystery (The Dermot O'Hara Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Michael A. McDonnell (Author), Mial Pagan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 478 ratings
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Detective Inspector Dermot O'Hara enjoys life as a policeman in the small Irish coastal town of Kenmare where his greatest challenges are lost library tickets and how to find more time to fish. This peaceful idyll is disrupted when death comes to town. And not just any death... O'Hara's career is on the line after the corpse of a US Senator is found on a remote hillside. O'Hara discovers that the Senator, searching for his Irish roots, has uncovered an old, still burning hatred from the time of the Great Famine. Dermot needs all the help he can get to solve the crime but the further he delves into the mystery it becomes clear that nothing is quite what it seems. This first book in the series introduces us to Dermot, his long-suffering wife Jo and their disreputable, yet loveable friends in Crowley's Bar.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Dermot O'Hara Mysteries
  2. Print length
    85 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    March 5, 2012
  6. Reading age
    16 - 18 years
  7. File size
    2454 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Tell all your friends of this enthralling story. This is the part of Ireland my husband and I loved best. Characters came to life, with great personalities. Can't wait for next book!"

About the Author

  I write the Dermot O'Hara Mysteries under the pen name 'Michael McDonnell', a combination of my own name and my mother's maiden name. Originally from Belfast I now live in St Albans. After graduating from Manchester University with a degree in English Literature and Drama, I became a drama therapist working in hospitals and day centres around London. Shortly afterwards I made a career switch into the advertising industry.  I had written plays and sketches while at Manchester so I took up my pen again and began writing short fiction and articles for business magazines, (in many cases interchangeable)...

  You may think that this was a slightly cavalier approach to vocational planning and you're right. However the writing bug had bitten and is still biting. My long stint in the world of media resulted in the 2014 novel, 'Eat More Bloody Meat Y'Bastards!' This novel was more therapy than fiction and has had great reviews including one from bestselling thriller writer M.J. Arlidge who said, 'Loved this book. It's a hilarious satire on the advertising industry, written with real brio and wit. Well done Mial Pagan - a true original.'

  In addition to my prose work I act and write with the Company of Ten at the Abbey Theatre where two of my plays, 'Other People's Lives' and 'Dancehall Sweethearts', have been produced. My screenplay 'Paradise Place' (if you liked 'Shaun of the Dead' you'll enjoy this) directed and filmed by the music video director Paride Odierna, is in post-production for release in late 2015 / early 2016.
LATEST NEWS: My short story 'Time to Kill' has been chosen for the BNBS / Scriggler Crime Short Stories Anthology of the best crime authors of the future.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B007HO6RXQ
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 5, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2454 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 85 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 478 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Mial Pagan

    Mial Pagan

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    Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

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  2. Mial Pagan

    Mial Pagan

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    I write the Dermot O'Hara Mysteries under a pen name, 'Michael McDonnell', which is a combination of my own (real) name and my mother's maiden name. Friends, enemies and relatives know me as 'Mial', the result of a childhood friend saying 'Michael' very fast. Originally from Belfast I now live in St Albans, just north of London. I worked as a Drama Therapist in hospitals and day centres around London before a switch into I.T.

    I began writing articles for business magazines and websites during my time at a major advertising agency and my business books are published by Hodder Education in their 'Teach Yourself' series.

    I've written two plays, 'Other People's Lives', produced at the Abbey Theatre and 'Dancehall Sweethearts' which transferred to the Upstairs at the Gatehouse theatre as part of the 2017 Camden Fringe Festival where it met with critical acclaim. Radio Verulam broadcast 'The Old Fighting Cocks' in April 2018 - the podcast is available for free at this link; http://www.radioverulam.com/podcast/the-old-fighting-cocks/

    If you would like to be kept up to date with my latest writing please subscribe on my website contact page: https://www.mialpagan.com/contact-the-author

    See more on the author's page
  3. Michael McDonnell

    Michael McDonnell

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Writer: Mial Pagan

    Belfast born playwright and novelist Mial Pagan read Drama and English Literature at Manchester University.

    Under the pen-name Michael McDonnell, he writes the Dermot O’Hara Series of detective novels set in Southern Ireland. Under his own name he wrote The Agency, a satirical novel set in the world of advertising.

    His stage plays Dancehall Sweethearts and National Trust (longlisted for the 2022 Bruntwood Prize) were produced at the Upstairs at the Gatehouse Theatre in London by the Company of Ten for the Camden Fringe Festival.

    His fifth novel, House of Ruined Souls, set in the Spanish Civil War, is due out mid-2023.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
478 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sunny and mild in California
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick, entertaining read.
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
Nice story with a few twists. I enjoyed very much. My Grandparent was from Kenmare, and I could envision the beautiful surroundings, while reading this adventure.
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Linda Sue
4.0 out of 5 stars Quiet Irish Town with great characters
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2019
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I was looking for a book that grabbed my interest at the beginning. Set in a small coastal Irish Town. Loved the characters. I was hooked! Looking forward to reading more about Garda Dermot O'Hara , the town's people, and crime solving in Kenmere.
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CopperKat
3.0 out of 5 stars I did like this cute mystery set in a beautiful part of ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2015
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I did like this cute mystery set in a beautiful part of Ireland. I picked this one up because I've been to that part of the country and wanted to read about it. I love the main characters and the villagers and the Pub. It was a short little mystery but a pleasure to read.
One person found this helpful
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Mary
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2018
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This is a well-written, humorous mystery with characters you would like to count as friends.
I realized I was smiling as I finished reading.
Unless you only read comic books or Middle English, I think you would enjoy this wonderful glimpse of the Irish small town and the people who give it life.
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Kindle Cookie
2.0 out of 5 stars Good cop story. Would be better as a TV episode .
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
So confusing. I had to keep looking back to see who the men were. Using first names sometimes, last names other times, and once in a while their whole names drove me nuts. Would've been better on TV so one could see the the characters.
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Radarmom
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
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Very intense, enjoyable book. Enjoy the characters. A great introduction to Dermot and Peter and the other townsfolk of Kilmare
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020
Verified Purchase
I read this because of the setting in Kenmare. I have been there 4 times and this book is so much like the Tidy Town and the people!! Keep writing
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ELLEN ARSENEAULT
3.0 out of 5 stars Okay
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
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Though interesting, it was not the kind of mystery that draws you in. And to me it ended quickly. This will not keep me from trying another.
4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Lynne C. Gill
5.0 out of 5 stars A brief but entertaining introduction to Dermot O'Hara .
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 7, 2017
Verified Purchase
A short introduction to Inspector Dermot O'Hara and his colleagues and friends. Michael McDonnell lays out the framework, the landscape, the characters very clearly and leaves us hoping for more when the story closes. I'm looking forward to reading more
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culture gap
3.0 out of 5 stars could be presented better
Reviewed in France on August 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
Barely into the first chapter and there are missing inverted commas. Then Gardai are referred to as constables. Maybe back in the days of RIC, but not in free Eire. It's a quirky Irish story, and could have been much longer: the book is far too short. A touch of Ballykisangel in places, and of course, they spend half their time in the pub.
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Sarah Hague
4.0 out of 5 stars Charming story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 1, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a charming story set in a small town in Ireland. Dermot O'Hara likes a quiet life and is not happy when he is told that a body has been found nearby. The investigation will surely interfere with his fishing.

As the story unravels, he is helped by locals and visitors and uncovers some rather sordid secrets. Much of the action takes place in the local pub where stories abound and the Guinness flows.

It's a short story to introduce Dermot and the rest of the colourful characters, with lots of blarney, action, and common sense. Very enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful
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Debbie Hicks
3.0 out of 5 stars Easy reading, to short a book for me really
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2017
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Easy reading, to short a book for me really, read within a day. Think I would enjoy reading further books in the series.
One person found this helpful
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Tap Dancer
5.0 out of 5 stars Charming little Irish mystery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2012
Verified Purchase
An excellent little "murder mystery" with an unexpected twist. It oozes small-town Irish charm. It's only a short book (estimated at 57 pages) so can easily be consumed in a couple of sittings. I see that it's the first in a series, so it will be interesting to see how the character develops.
2 people found this helpful
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